I've never understood this designation. What does it "really" mean other than FSF could never get their act together and make an OS so they ride on the "coat-tails" of Linux. My windows box has more GNU software installed than any of my linux boxes..should I start calling it: GNU/Win7?

I'm not sure it's true and you seem not to know GNU Hurd (another kernel for the GNU system). Linux designates only the kernel, not the whole operating system. GNU/Linux is an implementation of the GNU system. The FSF wrote:

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Fortunately, we didn't have to wait for the Hurd, because of Linux. Once Torvalds wrote Linux, it fit into the last major gap in the GNU system. People could then combine Linux with the GNU system to make a complete free system: a Linux-based version of the GNU system; the GNU/Linux system, for short.

I think FSF's reasoning for really pushing the term 'GNU/Linux' is that Linux distro's rely heavily on GNU software to run. In practical terms, you cannot have a Linux distro that did not contain GNU software, however you could have a Windows system which didn't contain any. I think it's partly also that they feel unappreciated since a lot of effort has been put into building GNU software, which in turn has helped to push Linux, such as GCC.

I think it's a bit of a contradictory argument. The whole point of having 'free as in freedom' is so we don't have to adhere to silly rules like referring to 'Linux' as 'GNU/Linux'.

It is not contradictory, it is just a different conception of the software freedom with which I agree.

I've heard FSF talking about Hurd for over 20 years (so yeah I know about it)...does it work yet? It would have been really cool if they had a working microkernel system in the early 90s...too bad it just didn't happen.

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Linux designates only the kernel, not the whole operating system. GNU/Linux is an implementation of the GNU system.

That was my point about my GNU/Windows7 box. I have all the common GNU software above the kernel level installed.

I've heard FSF talking about Hurd for over 20 years (so yeah I know about it)...does it work yet? It would have been really cool if they had a working microkernel system in the early 90s...too bad it just didn't happen.

GNU Hurd has worked since 2001 but is not stable enough for a daily use.

I've heard FSF talking about Hurd for over 20 years (so yeah I know about it)...does it work yet? It would have been really cool if they had a working microkernel system in the early 90s...too bad it just didn't happen.

GNU Hurd has worked since 2001 but is not stable enough for a daily use.

That was my point about my GNU/Windows7 box. I have all the common GNU software above the kernel level installed.

You don't have all components of the GNU system on Windows. I assume you use GCC.

ORLY? Name one that I don't. My GCC usage is limited to compling other peoples code that use GCC only extensions and occasionally updating some of my portable libraries (like when a new release comes out).

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